Teaching Opa-Locka's Youth About Muslim Culture Through Hip-Hop

(WLRN)

Hip-hop, Islamic culture and the community of Opa-locka intersected on Saturday during a block party held at the Opa-locka Arts and Recreation Center.

The event, Hip Hoppa Locka, was a culmination of a two-week residency program by Miami Dade College's Live Arts in which Muslim artists taught students from the Arts Academy of Excellence Charter School hip-hop-inspired styles of art, dance and music. 

MDC Live Arts has brought performers from around the world to perform in Miami-Dade County since 1990.  Director Kathryn Garcia said the organization wanted to expose the community to Islamic culture in an attempt to curb negative stereotypes associated with Muslims.